Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur has requested a formal statement from the Ministry of Roads and Transport regarding delays in expanding the Eldoret-Shamahoho Highway, which has led to numerous fatal accidents. The road, designed in the late 1960s, can no longer handle the increased traffic between the North Rift and western regions. The MP is calling for immediate safety measures and clear timelines for the upgrade.
On February 25, 2026, Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur addressed the National Assembly, highlighting the rising road accidents on the Eldoret-Shamahoho Highway, which links Eldoret to Webuye and Kakamega. He attributed the congestion, exacerbated by the narrow carriageway, to a surge in fatal crashes, including a December 2025 incident at Mukhonje where a matatu collided with a truck, killing eight people and injuring seven. Another accident near Kaburengu saw a matatu ram into a stationary truck.
"The road, designed in the late 1960s, is no longer able to cater for the volume of traffic between the two regions. This has led to frequent congestion and has been reportedly linked to a rise in road accidents, some of which have resulted in fatalities," stated Kitur.
The highway passes through notorious blackspots like Mukhonje and Kaburengu in Lugari, Kakamega County, where serious accidents occur almost weekly. Congestion is also hindering trade between Eldoret and Kisumu, key economic hubs. Kitur has urged the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to seek explanations from the Ministry on safety measures and expansion timelines.
President William Ruto launched the Ksh1.57 billion 33-kilometre Shamakhokho-Kaimosi-Mpaka-Museno Road upgrade to bitumen standards on November 1, 2025, with completion expected in April 2028. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula noted that the committee will convene and issue guidelines within one week.
